Two charged in North Oakland jewelry store robbery

OAKLAND -- A man and woman have been criminally charged in the armed takeover robbery in August of a North Oakland custom jewelry store where more than $100,000 worth of items were taken, police said Thursday.

Other suspects are being sought.

Charged with three counts each of second-degree robbery are Reyona Lampkin, 18, and Richard Tan Nguyen, 21, both of Oakland. who police described as friends.

The charges stem from the Aug. 2 robbery of Pave Fine Jewelry Design, 5496 College Ave. The robbery happened about 5:30 p.m. after the store had closed. Several employees were still in the store.

Police said that Lampkin had "cased" the store two hours earlier. At 5:30 p.m. two men armed with guns used a sledgehammer to break through the door of the closed store, smashed display cases and made off with various items of jewelry.

Nguyen was arrested Aug. 8 at his home where some of the stolen items were recovered, police said. Lampkin was arrested in Fremont Sept. 21, where she was also being sought for a burglary, police said. Lampkin has admitted her involvement while Nguyen refused to talk to police.